Different Types of Tanzania Safaris

by Kshaunish Jaini

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Tanzania in East Africa is an exciting, exotic place to journey to and even more so if you opt to visit there on safari. For many people, the chance to see big game and other animals in their natural habitat is a once in a lifetime experience they will remember forever. With the chance it gives to escape the pressures of the modern world and totally unwind, a Tanzanian safari
is a brilliant holiday choice.

The beauty of this is that there is no single type of safari so you can select the one you would like the most. From jeep safaris to bird-watching safaris in Tanzania, you can have a personal experience suited exactly to what you desire.

What are the different types of Tanzania Safaris

There are many different types of safari holidays you can enjoy across Africa and Tanzania is no different. This amazing East African country offers the full range and has access to all the wild animals a safari is famous for including the so-called ‘big five’. Along with the stunning creatures to observe, it also boasts gorgeous landscapes, hot weather and friendly local guides. In addition, it gives you chance to explore the local culture and combine your safari with adventures such as climbing Mt Kilimanjaro
or relaxing on the nearby beaches.

Balloon safaris are one of the best ways to experience the wildlife in Tanzania. Photo by Alex

The main types of safaris in Tanzania are as follows:

Jeep Safari – this involves going on an organized safari and travelling around the national parks or game reserves via jeep or other four wheeled drive vehicle, driven by a guide. It offers a great option if you want a more relaxing safari or can’t walk around much for medical or personal reasons.

Walking Safari – this type of safari involves walking around the park of reserve under the leadership of an experienced local guide. You can often see more this way than being in a vehicle, although obviously it is more physically tiring as you are on your feet all day.

Horse Riding Safari – this is definitely one for the more adventurous traveller! On a horse-riding safari, you ride around the game reserve on horse-back and actually alongside the animals you are observing. This gives unique access to the animals and a completely different experience but you need to be a competent horse rider.

Bird Watching Safari – a little different to the standard safari, this involves looking out for rare birds rather than the usual land animals. A local guide will take you out into the park and give you chance to see all manner of unusual birds. Although if bird-watching is not your thing, you will probably want to swerve this type of safari.

Balloon Safari – this is certainly the most unusual way to enjoy Tanzania’s wildlife! A balloon safari involves going high up in a hot air balloon to experience the joys of the wildlife from the sky. It gives you a great bird’s eye view of what’s happening but obviously may not be for you if you prefer to get a bit closer to the action.

A typical view of elephants seen on a balloon safari in Tanzania Photo by Harvey

There are lots of different options for what sort of safari you can have, depending on what your personal needs are. It is worth taking the time to have a think about the ideal one for you so you get the adventure of your dreams when you go.

What to look for in a Tanzania Safari

Try thinking about the type of safari you would enjoy most. What else do you need to think about when booking a safari?

One of the main things to think about is the location of your safari lodge
or camp. You need to consider how close it is to the safari park so you don’t have a long journey in each day if that is not your requirement. Depending on what type of experience you want, you also need to look at the accommodation and choose how luxurious or authentic it is for you personally.

The other big factor in a safaris is the staff at the camps and the local guides who will take you around the reserve. These can make a huge difference to how much you enjoy your time out there and what animals you see so it is worth looking at this when booking. Luckily Tanzania is famous for its friendly and expert locals so this won’t be a problem.

Travelling to Tanzania – Be Prepared

The best way to travel to Tanzania
to begin your safari fun is via plane. You can get direct and one-stop flights to Tanzania fairly easily from overseas in the modern age and most fly into Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar. There is also the Arusha airport, which is a smaller, local one close to the popular town of Arusha.

It is worth thinking about which airport to fly into depending on where you are heading for your safari to avoid a long journey to camp when you arrive. Kilimanjaro or Arusha airport are good for any safaris taking place around the North of the country while for any southern safaris, you may be best flying into Julius Nyerere International Airport located close to Dar es Salaam. Whichever airport you fly into, there will be internal flights available to travel within Tanzania or car hire to book. If you have booked as part of an organised tour then the tour operator should sort out any transfers as part of your holiday package.

Going on a safari in Tanzania is the best chance to explore the different types of safaris on offer. Photo by Roberto

Once your travel arrangements are in place you will also need to sort a VISA to enter the country, ideally before you travel to Tanzania
. If you contact your local Tanzanian Embassy before leaving then they can help sort this out for you. If for some reason you don’t have it by the time you travel, then it is possible to get a visitor’s VISA
on entry at the four main points in Tanzania of Dar es Salaam International Airport, Zanzibar International Airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport or Namanga Entry Point.

Other things to double check before heading off are that you have a current passport that is valid for at least six months from your date of travel. Also important is getting the correct vaccinations for East Africa
, including yellow fever, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid fever and possibly rabies. The official advice can change so you need to check the current situation before travelling.

Aside from the above, as long as you have your suitcase, your money and your sunscreen then you’re ready to enjoy the holiday of a lifetime! A full packing list for your safari can be found here
.

The Best Tanzanian Safaris By Category

Whatever type of safari you choose to go on, there are lots of national parks to visit in Tanzania
to get the best experience you can. We look at some of the best for each category:

Best Jeep safaris in Tanzania

If you’re looking for a jeep safari that takes in all the famous areas Tanzania has to offer then a northern circuit 4x4 jeep safari
is a great choice. Most travelers will go to one of the big-name parks but this jeep safari takes you to three of them - the Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. The variety this jeep safari offers and the chance to see all the landmarks associated with these spots is superb. The package usually includes the services of a driver/guide who will take you around in a 4x4 vehicle to all the best places to see the wildlife.

It also offers great flexibility in terms of accommodation as you can book standard or luxury lodges or camps to stay in, depending on what you fancy. Whichever you choose, you can be sure of a comfortable stay and friendly staff to make your holiday an unforgettable trip

Essential Tanzania 4x4 Safari, Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Park

This is a great choice for the first-time safari as it is a short 5-day safari trip
but gives travelers access to the classic places to observe animals in Tanzania at. The 5-day itinerary can be tailored to your individual needs so you can spend as much time over the 5 days where you like. Taking in the iconic Ngorongoro Crater and the vast rolling Serengeti plains, the expert driver will transport you around in a 4x4 vehicle to see all the animals you like.

Accommodation for each night can be arranged on booking the safari but these popular destinations have lots of camps or lodges to choose from for every budget. With this in mind, you’re bound to find the ideal base to relax in of a night with a drink in hand!

Best Bird-Watching Safaris

A red-and-yellow barbet seen on a Bird-watching safari in Tanzania. Photo by Andrea

Tanzania Birding Tour, Arusha and Serengeti National Parks

This safari, usually lasting two weeks, will give you all the exotic sightings and thrills you could want when in Tanzania. The duration means you get plenty of time to watch the beautiful local wildlife across some of the most famous parks such as Arusha and the Serengeti.

With great local accommodation included as part of the package, you can be sure of having somewhere comfortable to relax in after a busy day out in the bush. This holiday also includes transfers to and from the airport, use of the safari jeeps and the services of a knowledgeable guide amongst other features. This is a great safari for any twitcher out there and the chance to see rare species such as the African Jacana and Hottentot is not to be missed!.

8 Day Tanzania Birding Tour, Arusha/Tarangire National Park

This particular bird watching safari is great if you don’t have the time to explore the birds in the region for a full two weeks. Although shorter in length than some other safaris, it still packs in plenty of action and different locations to get the best shot at catching a few rare avian species.

Beginning in Arusha you travel through some beautiful scenery and parks before ending up at the Tarangire park on Day 7 for a full day exploring. The accommodation along the way is very comfortable and friendly. You will enjoy recovering with a drink in hand in the evening as much as you do observing the different species in the day!

Best Horse Riding safaris

Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari, Northern Tanzania

This is a brilliant choice of safari if you enjoy horse riding but also want that luxurious feel of a high-class permanent camp to stay at during the first night. The camp is a comfortable villa which invariably boasts of a golf club or a swimming pool. Wi-Fi is usually available and bedrooms come attached with private bathrooms. You can usually extend your stay after the safari has finished, by a few nights.

After spending the first night there, you head off for the main safari on horseback. Accommodation for the main safari is of the mobile tented kind and again, this is done in a very classy manner. The tents are fully equipped with mosquito nets and the bush toilet is located close by. The safari lasts for 8 days and gives riders the chance to ride alongside elephants as they move around with stunning results. It is for the more experienced rider but if that is you, you will have a truly unbelievable experience as the expert guides help you enjoy it.

Lake Natron Safari, Lake Natron

This particular safari takes place in one of the less busy areas of the safari circuit in Tanzania - Lake Natron. This beautiful spot gives an excellent chance to see the stunning local wildlife from horseback. As you ride beneath Ol Doinyo Lengai, which is the oldest active volcano in East Africa, you will see the zebra, wildebeest and giraffe cantering across the plain.

As you would expect with a horse riding safari, the accommodation is a mobile camp that moves around with you over the week. It is surprisingly comfortable and gives a feeling of being on an ancient-safari, riding horses, following the wildlife and living under the stars.

Best Walking safaris

Walking Safari in Selous National Park

This is a walking safari that will provide a truly memorable experience. Staying at one of the lovely camps in Selous National Park, the setting with small hills around is quite magical. The rooms around the region are very comfortable and being a permanent camp, there is no moving around every day. The views you get after a busy day are stunning and make it a great place to stay.

This lodge specialises in walking safaris and the expert guides will be able to take you out each day and show you some wonderful sights. You can set off around 6am for the morning tour and there is also one around 4pm that finishes in time for a sundowner afterwards.

On a walking safari at the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania. It's the second largest national park in Africa. Photo by Kevin

Walking safari in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The astounding Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a great place for a walking safari. The varied wildlife and amazing scenery really make it a place you will love being in. It is worth noting that you need to arrange a guide to meet you at the camp before you arrive as there are none resident here. It is worth it though as the walks around the Ngorongoro Crater area and the nearby Maasai villages are some of the best, not only in Tanzania, but across Africa.

The accommodation at Lemala in Ngorongoro is set in a grove of Acacia trees and offers a tented experience that is calm and tranquil. With great views and a comfortable feel, this is a great option to stay at and enjoy a brilliant walking safari.

Best Balloon Safari in Tanzania

Serengeti Balloon Safari, Western Corridor, Serengeti National Park

The hot air balloon safari is an excellent way to get a view of the big picture. After being picked up from your camp or lodge early in the morning (around 4am), you are taken to the launch site to watch the balloon being inflated.

The setup can take a bit of time, depending on the weather conditions, but the flight itself lasts around one hour and the light, smooth flight gives unique views of the wildlife and treetops below. Upon landing, you will be treated to a superb breakfast usually with sparkling wine, under the trees, after which you are taken back to your camp. A really great experience, this is especially good if you want to combine a balloon safari experience with the standard type of safari you’re already on.

Rising at dawn, you will be up in the air as the sun rises for a magical ride high above the tree-tops. After being picked up from your lodge, you will arrive in time for the pre-flight instructions and to see the balloon go up. Once ready, you set off and fly for about an hour before touching down for a champagne breakfast in the bush.

This is a great trip as you can fit it in one day of your normal safari and gives a superb view of the famous Serengeti as you look down from up high. The view is quite something as is the feeling of sitting in the bush after with a glass of champagne! This balloon safari travels within the Central Serengeti giving aerial views of the Seronera river and nearby hippo pools.

Hippos seen on an early morning balloon safari in the Serengeti. Photo by Roberto

Other Tanzanian Safaris

Although the above represent the best Tanzanian safaris out there for the different types you can go on there are others that only just missed out.

The walking safari based at Greystoke Mahale is really something as it gives you chance to trek and observe chimps in the wild. The lodge at Greystoke Mahale is set on the shore of Lake Tanganyika and offer great views along with sumptuous rooms to rest in. The trekking can be quite strenuous though so be warned!

For the birding enthusiasts, the Grumeti River Camp is a great place to stay at and gives amazing access to the local bird population. Located in the Western Corridor of the Serengeti, the camp has a lovely laid-back appeal and the 360 different species of birds are truly special.

A horse-riding safari that offers a great experience is the one you can enjoy based at the tented Sabora Camp. This gives travellers an opulent, 1920’s themed place to stay with superb food and access to a small spa. The horse riding available from this location is excellent and the guides at the camp will be able to take you to the perfect places for riding.

Conclusion

Travelling to the wonderful country of Tanzania on a safari will be a trip of a lifetime. Seeing those exotic animals in their natural habitats will be memories you will treasure forever.

If you spend a little time when booking to get the correct safari for you, whether it be a jeep or horse riding kind, this will make a huge difference. Make sure you have all the other arrangements in place such as your tickets, booking receipts, passport, VISA and vaccinations, to avoid hassles and inconvenience. Hopefully we can help you in this and show just how perfect a Tanzania safari can be.